live by one's wits
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Manage by clever expedience rather than hard work or wealth. For example, Alan's never held a steady job but manages to live by his wits. This expression uses wits in the sense of “keen mental faculties.” [c. 1600]
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Words nearby live by one's wits
Live and let live, live axle, livebearer, live birth, liveblog, live by one's wits, live caption, live center, live centre, lived, live dangerously
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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